Improvement in watch-keys



F. JACUT.

Watch-KeysQ N0.156,356, I Patented Oct. 27,1874.

Wimesses. I Inventor.

I THE au a-me COJHO YDilTHJslM PARK PLACE,N,Y.

verse central section of the watch-case.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRITZ JAOOT, OF LOOLE, SWITZERLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATCH-KEYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 156,356, dated October 27, 1874; application filed September 29, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRITZ JAOOT, of Locle, in the canton of N euchatel, Switzerland, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Watches, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to watches, the pendant of which is made to receive and carry the Watchkey, whereby the key is kept clear of dirt, and is not liable to become lost or misplaced.

My invention consists in providing the key with an abutment or shoulder, and combining therewith a retaining-pin, secured to the back plate of the watch, and which fits an aperture in the side of the pendant, in such a manner that, when the key is inserted in the pendant, and the back plate is closed, the retaining-pin catches behind the shoulder, and the key is securely held in place, while, when the back plate is open, the key is free to be taken out.

The key is fitted in the pendant, in such a manner that it is capable of a slight movement, and that it rests directly on the springcatch of the face-plate, whereby, by depressing the key, the spring-catch is opened, so

that the key answers the purpose of a pusherpin.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a rear view of a watch-case open. Fig. 3 is a trans- Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the watch-key detached.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The letter A designates a watch-case, of which B is the face plate, and O the back plate. D is the watch-pendant, which is made with a socket, in which is fitted the watch-key E, the key being provided with a head or finger piece that protrudes from the pendant. Near its lower end the key is beveled, so as to form at that point a shoulder or abutment, a, and at a point immediately next the one occupied by this shoulder when the key is inserted in the pendant, the latter is provided with a hole or aperture, 1). In a line with this aperture the back plate 0 is provided with a pin or catch, 0, so that, when the key is inserted in the pendant, and the back plate is closed, the pin 0 catches behind the shoulder a, and the key is prevented from falling out of its socket, while as soon as the back plate is opened the key is free to be taken out to wind up or set the watch.

When the key is inserted in the pendant its lower end rests against the spring-catch F, which catch serves to retain the face-plate in a closed condition. Thus, by depressing the key, the spring-catch F is opened, and the face-plate is released, by which arrangement the watch-key, when not in use to wind up or set the watch, is preserved against dirt and loss, and at the same time acts in lieu of the ordinary pusher-pin or trigger to open the catch.

I am aware that the pendant of a watch has been provided with a spring-catch, secured at its lower end to the pendant, and its upper free end entering a recess formed in the detachable key, the latter hearing at its lower end against a pin acting on the spring-catch, which secures the one side of the case in a closed condition; but such is not my invention, as by such construction the spring-catch, which holds the watch-key in place, must be operated by hand, and the back plate of the watch opened, requiring two operations, whereas in my invention, when the back plate of the watch is opened, the watch-key is released by such movement.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The watch-key F, constructed at its lower end with the shoulder a, in combination with the pendant D, having a socket to which said key is adapted, and the back plate G, having the pin or catch 0, for passing through the transverse opening b in the pendant, and projecting over the shoulder a of the key, all substantially as herein described, for the object specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 31st day of August, 187 4.

FRITZ JAOOT. n s] Witnesses:

A.WIILHELM, EHHENKER. 

